Sebastien de Castell had just finished a degree in archaeology when he started work on his first dig. Four hours later he realised how much he hated archaeology and left to pursue a very focused career as a musician, ombudsman, interaction designer, fight choreographer, teacher, project manager, actor and product strategist. After a year in the Netherlands, he has recently returned to Vancouver, Canada, where he lives with his wife and two belligerent cats. Traitor's Blade, his award-winning debut novel, the first in his bestselling series The Greatcoats, is followed by Knight's Shadow, Saint's Blood and Tyrant's Throne. He is also writing a YA series, starting with Spellslinger.
This final adventure had heartache and loss, but also ended on that most uplifting and enduring of human conditions: hope. It is a beautiful ending to a fabulous series that ranges from swashbuckling fun to deep philosophical ponderations. --A Fantastical Librarian Once again de Castell has raised the stakes of his series with a fantastic new villain, and he has pulled together the threads of his past four books to create a very memorable conclusion. Tyrant's Throne has everything you love about the previous books; heartbreaking moments, laugh out loud humor, a loveable/hateable cast of characters, a fascinating world, and a fantastic author's voice. --The Quill to Live This is a great series, that gets better with each book, while Traitor's Blade was good, an impressive debut and decent start to the series, Knight's Shadow improved on it in every way and with Saint's Blood de Castell has managed yet again to top his previous book by creating what will surely be one of the best fantasy books of the year. You're pulled in from the first page through to the last in this fast paced, character driven epic where come the final page you are left wanting more! --Tattooed Book Geek If you enjoy fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat adventure and compelling, believable characters battling overwhelming odds yet never giving in, you can't beat the Greatcoats series. To read them is to love them. --The Oklahoman [Knight's Shadow] will blow you away . . . Sebastien de Castell has really, really outdone himself. . . I probably will have to wait another year for the third book in the series but it is definitely worth the wait. The Greatcoats series should be on every reading list. --The Book Plank How wonderful it is to be back into this world . . . wildly entertaining . . . Greatcoats is now up there on my list of favorite fantasy series, and I never miss a chance to recommend it to my fellow readers and friends. --Bibliosanctum Like the sword its disgraced protagonist carries, Traitor's Blade is short and sharp and smart, and very well wielded, really . . . With a tip of his hat at Alexandre Dumas, Sebastien de Castell make a fine first impression in this entertaining debut. --Tor Praise for The Greatcoats Traitor's Blade is a swashbuckling romp packed with charisma, camaraderie, quick wit and even quicker swordplay. That said, it's far from candy-coated - and it packs some serious substance . . . darkness is served up deliciously in Traitor's Blade--only de Castell uses it as the sauce, not the soup . . . What makes the book truly sing, though, is its rich historical backdrop . . . De Castell's fight scenes are as sumptuously detailed as the world Falcio inhabits. . . In its own way, Traitor's Blade is as grim and dark as the edgiest fantasy series on the shelves. It's also shot through with heroics, hope and a dazzling aptitude for fun. --Jason Heller, NPR